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Carol of the bells

Introduction

The ancient Ukranian song Shchedryk is not a Christmas carol but a hymn to the Ukranian New Year, celebrated on 13 January, and the original words wish for a bountiful harvest. This traditional tune found favour with many arrangers, Leontovich even managing to copyright his version of the melody in 1936. But it was the new English words and the title Carol of the bells added to the tune by an American schoolteacher, Peter Wilhousky, that set the seal on what has become one of the most venerated of Christmas carols.

Details

Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells, All seem to say ‘throw cares away’ Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, To young and old, meek and the bold, Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song, With joyful ring, all carolling. One seems to hear words of good cheer, From everywhere, filling the air, Oh how they pound, raising the sound, O’er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring, while people sing Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here! Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas! Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas! On, on they send, on without end, Their joyful tone to every home Ding, dong, ding, dong.

Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells, All seem to say, throw cares away Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, To young and old, meek and the bold, Ding dong ding dong, that is their song, With joyful ring, all carolling, One seems to hear words of good cheer, From everywhere, filling the air, Oh how they pound, raising the sound, O’er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring, while people sing Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here, Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas, Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas, On, on they send, on without end, Their joyful tone to every home Ding dong ding.